Notre Dame Legacy Ready To Return To South Bend Soon
Expectations are high this fall for Naperville Central High School after multiple transfers into the program, including 2022 wide receiver Reggie Fleurima Jr.
Naperville Central features four Division-I prospects at receiver, including Fleurima and 2020 wideout Jadon Thompson, who is committed to Illinois.
“He’s taught me a lot of stuff, a lot of route-running and stuff because he’s so experienced,” Fleurima said of Thompson. “He’s been showing me things to do against better DBs and good techniques. I used that a lot in my 7-on-7 this summer and I think it helped a lot.
“I also got bigger, so I’m also trying to use my body more on smaller corners. I realize that’s going to be a huge advantage for me this season, so that’s what I’m trying to work on.”
Fleurima also worked on catching with his father, former Notre Dame defensive lineman by the same name, as well as quarterback Sam Jackson, a 2021 prospect who is committed to Minnesota.
After a 14-6 loss in the opener to Hinsdale Central, Naperville Central takes on Lincolnway-East this Friday.
“It’s kind of interesting because I’m still young, so I’ve never played on a team with this many recruits,” said Fleurima.
“It’s interesting, but it’s also really nice because there are so many weapons that we make it easier on each other because the defensive coordinator can’t focus on one guy. He has to focus on all of us. At the end of the day, we’re making Sam looked really good out there because he has all of these targets to throw to, which is also really good.”
Fleurima already has offers from Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Virginia Tech and Cincinnati. He camped at Notre Dame this fall and is seriously interested in the Irish.
“I hope to stay in touch with Notre Dame more during the season and after the season,” he said.
“Right now, I’m just trying to focus on having a good season with my team and hopefully doing some big things with my team.”
He’s trying to get down to Michigan State for a game this fall and would welcome the opportunity to get back to South Bend.
“I’ve seen it a lot with my dad, but it would be even better to see it with someone who knows everything about it,” he said.
He’d also like to get to Michigan, something he never thought he’d hear himself say.
“I want to go up to see Michigan because they say Michigan is a cool place too,” he said. “It’s weird because I’ve always been a diehard Notre Dame just because of my dad. It’s weird that now I actually want to go up to their rival school.
“If you asked me in third grade if I wanted to go up to Michigan, I would say, ‘No. That will never happen.’ Now with the facilities and everything I want to see it. With Purdue and Minnesota, I was impressed with their facilities, so I just want to keep going up to more schools to see what their like.”
But for now, his focus is on his team, which has the highest of goals heading into the year.
“The goal for us is obviously the state championship and to win our conference, the DuPage Valley Conference,” he said. “It’s kind of like all eyes on us right now because all of the attention with the transfers coming in. There are a lot of high expectations for us, but as soon as everybody came, we had the expectation of winning state.
“Even our coaches say this is the most talent Naperville Central has had in a long time. They compare us to the 2013 team that won state. As long as we have our mindsets right, that’s our biggest focus because physically, we have the skill to compete for a state championship. We just have to be there mentally.”